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Dead Souls
Dead Souls
Author: Nikolai Gogol
A socially adept newcomer fluidly inserts himself into an unnamed Russian town, conquering first the drinkers, then the dignitaries. All find him amiable, estimable, agreeable. But what exactly is Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov up to?--something that will soon throw the town "into utter perplexity." — After more than a week of entertainment and "passi...  more »
ISBN: 208135
Publication Date: 1961
Pages: 278
Rating:
  • Currently 5/5 Stars.
 1

5 stars, based on 1 rating
Publisher: Signet Classics
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
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reviewed Dead Souls on + 67 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
"Dead souls" (1842) is a book written by an important Russian author, Nikolai Gogol, that criticizes the Russian society of his time by means of a well-told satire.

The main character of "Dead souls" is Chichikov, a man that wants to be rich, and turns into a con man in order to achieve that objective. His stratagem is simple, yet strange: he will buy "dead souls" from landowners, and then mortage them in order to earn a lot of money. That was possible because in pre 1861 Russia, landowners owned serfs ("souls") that helped to farm the land, and that could be bought, sold or mortgaged whenever the owners felt the need to do so. The "dead souls" were serfs that had already died, but that were still listed as living in property registers.

Will Chichikov be able to buy "dead souls" at a low price and then mortgage them, turning into a rich landowner? Or will his proposal seem so outlandish to others that he won't be able to convince them that he is not joking? You will find answers to those questions in this book, along with beautiful (albeit extremely long) descriptions of the Russian scenery.

A good book club book, or just a good book for some thoughtful reading, especially for insights into the Russia of that time.
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reviewed Dead Souls on
This edition is translated by Bernard Guilbert Guerney, not Pevear and Volokhonsky as the blurb states.
reviewed Dead Souls on + 43 more book reviews
A thoroughly delightful read. It's the first book by a Russian author that actually made me laugh.


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